LAVALE — World Artists Experiences will present The Gerdan Ensemble — the Soul of Ukraine on March 24 at 3 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church, 1222 Vocke Road.
The concert blends traditional folk songs from Eastern Europe in original arrangements, sometimes using new melodic ideas and rhythms. The concert is free and donations are accepted.
Gerdan, a professional music ensemble originally from Ukraine, is based in Washington, D.C. The name “Gerdan” comes from a woman’s necklace from the Carpathian Mountains, rich with natural colors of decorative beads woven into a dazzling array.
Likewise, the musicians create original arrangements of traditional Eastern European folk melodies and rhythms in a fresh, lively style using violin, voice and a variety of international flutes. Gerdan’s past performances include the Library of Congress, Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, the Kennedy Center, Music at Penn Alps and many world music festivals.
The co-founders of Gerdan are Andrei Pidkivka and Solomia Gorokhivska.
Pidkivka makes, plays and collects archaic to modern flutes from around the world. He will explain each flute and has used the South American Pan-flute, the Turkish Ney and the Ukrainian sopilka in symphonic performances of “The Lord of the Rings.” He studied classical and world music in Ukraine and holds a doctorate of music arts degree from Michigan State University. He has performed as soloist and guest musician with several symphonies, including Baltimore and Pittsburgh. The Voices of America Network interviewed him for broadcast in Ukraine, as did NPR and PBS in Cleveland. In 2020, he won a Grammy award as a producer for best soundtrack for the HBO series “Chornobvl.”
Violinist and vocalist Gorokhivska has established her musical career as an acclaimed soloist and chamber musician, recording artist and a music educator. She holds a doctorate of musical arts degree from the Catholic University of America after earning two bachelor and two master’s degrees from the National Music Academy in Ukraine. She is an international laureate award recipient in classical and folk music performance and was a musicologist, journalist, author, and senior editor for a musical Ukrainian TV program. She participates in many classical, jazz, folk and contemporary music projects internationally.
WAE is a nonprofit, volunteer group with the mission to “build international understanding through the arts and citizen diplomacy.” All musical groups are recommended by their embassies.
For more information, contact 301-395-8165 or wae@comcast.net.